The Virtuous Wife

Chapter 17: Brotherly Friendship

This news was like a thunderclap, causing a huge shock in the Hou Mansion! Su Wei hurriedly asked someone to invite the old master and the old lady to the hall. Gu was still immersed in the phrase "go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and make military achievements", and had not woken up.

Jingyi pushed gently, "Mother, mother!"

Gu came back to her senses and took Jingyi's hand and said, "Yiyi, did you hear it just now? Did I hear it correctly?"

Jingyi smiled and said, "Is mother too happy? Mother did not hear it correctly, my eldest brother is indeed an official."

Gu frowned deeply, how could she smile at all? Jingyi saw something wrong and said softly, "Mother, are you feeling unwell?"

Gu shook her head and took Jingyi's hand to the hall.

The hall was already full of people. Especially the old master, the smile on his face did not fade for a long time, showing how proud he was.

The old lady was relatively quiet. Although there was a smile on her face, it did not reach her eyes, and she did not seem to be really happy for Su Qing. Jingyi was too lazy to think too much. After all, he was not her grandson, so it was good enough that she did not make trouble.

The old man shouted: "Wei'er, is this true? Are you sure someone didn't spread rumors?"

Su Wei nodded and said: "Someone in the palace just sent a message. The imperial edict and the emperor's reward are on the way. It is estimated that he will enter the mansion with Qing'er."

The old man nodded, and his eyes were full of doting and pride when he mentioned his eldest grandson!

Su Ming was also very excited, and his excitement was beyond words.

Su Wei said to Su Ming and Su Qian: "You two should study hard, and you can be as successful as your eldest brother in the future. Father only hopes that the three of you will care for each other to preserve the foundation and reputation of my Su family."

Su Ming and Su Qian hurriedly responded respectfully and stood aside.

In less than a quarter of an hour, a servant came to pass on the message that the eunuch in the palace was almost at the door. Everyone got up and went out to greet him.

Su Qing and the eunuch arrived at the gate of the mansion together. Su Wei invited the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict into the flower hall and prepared good tea. The eunuch drank a cup of tea, looked at the prepared incense table and said: "My Lord, Mr. Su, please accept the imperial edict." After speaking, he took the imperial edict from the hand of the eunuch next to him, and everyone knelt down together. The eunuch began to read the imperial edict: "By the will of heaven, the emperor decrees: There is Su Qing, the eldest son of the Pingnan Marquis Mansion, who is brave and resourceful, with extraordinary courage and insight. He has helped General Weiyuan to quell rebellions many times. He is indeed a great talent of our great abyss. Now Su Qing is canonized as a regular sixth-rank vanguard school, and is rewarded with 100 taels of gold and 100 hectares of fertile land. Pingnan Marquis Su Wei and his wife Gu are good at educating their children, so they are specially rewarded with 1,000 taels of silver, 50 pieces of silk, 10 hu of pearls, and a night-shining pearl. This is the imperial decree." Everyone bowed: "Long live our emperor, long live our emperor, long live our emperor!" Su Wei ordered someone to hand a silver note to the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict. The eunuch took a look and accepted it. He smiled and said, "Congratulations, Lord Hou! A 12-year-old sixth-rank official, this is unheard of, it shows how much favor the emperor has for the Su family!"

Su Wei clasped his fist and said, "I hope you can say a few more good words." He winked at the housekeeper, who understood and presented another package of the best Dahongpao.

The eunuch took it with a smile, said some polite words, and then stood up to say goodbye.

Su Qing stood in the middle of the hall, adjusted his hair crown, lifted his robe and knelt down and said, "Qing'er is unfilial, and failed to be filial to my grandparents and father and mother. Please accept Qing'er's three bows!"

After that, Su Qing performed the ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows. After the ceremony, the old man personally stepped forward, helped him up, and said with a smile: "Good boy! The son of my Su family should be like this!"

Gu's eyes were already filled with tears. She stepped forward and touched Su Qing's head and face, choking and saying: "Qing'er, you are finally back. How could you be so cruel to follow your uncle to the battlefield? If something happens to you, what will you let your mother do?"

Su Qing's eyes were also wet: "Mother, it is my son who is unfilial and I have troubled you to worry. On the way back, I heard that my mother had been bedridden for several months, but my son could not be filial to her. Thanks to my brother and sister who served by my mother's side. It is my son who is unfilial! Please punish me, mother!"

After saying that, he knelt in front of Gu again. Gu was already in tears at this time, and dragged Su Qing up with both hands. Jingyi and Su Ming also had red eyes, and they came forward and leaned on Gu's side.

Su Wei stood up and looked at the scene of the four mothers and children reunited. He was also somewhat moved. He slowly said, "Well, it's a big happy event after all. Madam, Qing'er just came back, let him talk to his brothers and sisters first." As he said that, he helped Gu to sit aside, and Su Qing and his siblings wiped their eyes. Su Ming spoke first: "Brother, you are back! If you don't come back, I won't recognize you."

Su Qing laughed: "Second brother has grown so tall, I shouldn't recognize him!" As he said that, he saw Su Qian standing beside him and said with a smile: "Is this third brother? He has grown so tall too!"

Su Qian bowed respectfully, "Brother! I haven't seen you for two years. You are a lot darker than before."

Su Qing patted Su Qian on the shoulder: "Third brother is in good shape. Come and practice martial arts with me later! I don't ask for high level, but at least you can strengthen your body!"

Su Ming and Su Qian happily agreed.

The old man looked at Su Qing and didn't dislike Su Qian, his half brother, and his eyes and face were full of relief.

Jingyi looked up at Su Qing. Although he was only twelve years old, he was about 1.6 meters tall. He wore a green robe with the cuffs tied tightly, perhaps for the convenience of martial arts practice. Wearing a hair crown and black boots. He looks like a little general!

Su Qing was also looking at Jingyi. When he left, Jingyi was only five years old. Two years have passed. She should have forgotten what she looks like, right?

Su Qing looked at Jingyi's bright eyes, but she looked a little timid. He stepped forward, half squatted, and looked at Jingyi: "Yiyi? Do you still recognize your brother? Brother used to take you out to play!"

Jingyi saw that her tone was so light, afraid of scaring her, and couldn't help laughing, "Brother is so gentle!"

Everyone laughed after hearing this, and Gu also laughed. Su Qing was stunned, then laughed out loud, then hugged Jingyi and locked her in his arms.

Jingyi was so scared that she put her arms around Su Qing's neck, and Su Qing laughed and said, "Don't be afraid, Yiyi, I used to hold you like this."

Jingyi looked at this elder brother. Although he looked unfamiliar, she could tell from his eyes and face that he really loved her.

Jingyi smiled sweetly, "Brother, will you teach Yiyi martial arts? Yiyi also wants to learn."

The old man and Su Wei couldn't help laughing when they heard it. The old man said, "Yiyi, you are the daughter of our Hou Mansion, how can you wield a sword or a g*n?"

Su Wei turned his head to look at Gu and whispered, "Go back and wash up first. The banquet will start soon."

Gu nodded, and accompanied by the nanny and the maid beside her, she returned to her own courtyard.

The old lady looked at the few people laughing in the room, her face was not showing, but a dark flash in her eyes. Her hand unconsciously held the cane in her hand tighter.

The old man and Su Wei were very happy to see the brothers and sisters getting along harmoniously. Especially the old man, he was very satisfied with this eldest grandson.

The family finished lunch happily and went their separate ways, leaving only the old man and Su Wei in the flower hall.

The old man said with a serious look: "It really is in line with what Yiyi said, a blessing in disguise?"

Su Wei nodded, "Father, it seems that this should be the emperor's intention."

The old man nodded: "The emperor intends to support my Su family, but he doesn't want my Su family to be too powerful. Leaving a legitimate son born by the second wife at home is the most appropriate. In this way, the third brother committed a serious crime, and he was spared, giving grace to our Su family, and cutting off his official career, thinking that my Su family should not be too powerful. At the same time, it is also a warning to us. What merits and power are all just a word from him. A prefect of the fourth rank, he can abolish it if he wants, and a small sixth rank vanguard school, he can do whatever he wants?"

Su Wei looked worried, and thought to himself: This is a warning to himself! He holds military power, and the emperor's meaning is very clear. He is not allowed to get close to any faction, otherwise? This is a warning to the tiger! It is true that accompanying the emperor is like a tiger!